A Short History of the Bakewell Pudding

The Bakewell Pudding is one of the UK’s most enigmatic desserts with a fascinating history which can be told through the stories which surround it, touching upon various recipes and multiple people over the past two hundred years. The story of the Bakewell stretches all the way into the early nineteenth century and continues to this day, providing me with ample inspiration for a book design.
The creator of the Bakewell Pudding; Mrs. Greaves, first baked her take on the pudding in the early nineteenth century following a rather fortunate accident in the kitchen. The story was at the forefront of my mind when I began my research into the designs of the time which is when I discovered the typographic posters of the day. I found these posters beautiful, alive with detail and drama, not just in the playfully lyrical wording but also in the multi-layered, economical design. Within these posters no space goes to waste, typography and the occasional image all balance exactly on long narrow pages to create provocative, striking advertisements. In my book design I aimed to capture some of these vintage elements through a modern interpretation.
The nineteenth century poster designs are most evident in my chapter titles which draw from the whimsical language and the striking designs to tell the story of Bakewell. In my typography I have selected elements to compliment these designs whist maintaining a modern sensibility in relation to white space and layout design. To achieve my design I have used traditional typefaces of the time, as well as using the double rules and typographic hierarchy to draw attention to selective elements within the text. I have then set the whole design within a long, thin page width to further emulate the poster design.
In attempting to pay homage to the typographic posters of the nineteenth century, I have aimed to appeal to the target audience. Through capturing the essence of the posters, my design would appeal to type designers, typographers and graphic designers who appreciate the references to typographic history and the modern interpretations of the designs. However, my book is also accessible to a much broader audience outside of design; through my use of simple, bold typographic hierarchy I have created a book to appeal to the dessert enthusiast in all of us. The imagery and colours used throughout the book were selected to compliment the story and the typographic design inspiration. I elected to use imagery that wouldn’t clash with the aesthetic, deciding to use black and white imagery with a strong red detailing to reference Bakewell’s all important layer of jam as well as Mr. Kipling’s iconic cherries.
The purpose when designing the book was to truly celebrate the Bakewell in its many forms and variations, telling the stories of those who have been integral to its continued success up to this day. Retelling their stories through the graphic design language of the typographic poster has brought these stories to life in a new exciting way.